THE TORCH:February 2003

THE BOTTOM LINE

Hugh M. Spoljaric, President

Kingston Teachers’ Federation

“The AmBush of Public Education”

In the movies,
when a character recognizes that it’s a set-up or an ambush, it’s always too
late to avoid the inevitable. Only with early recognition could they have been
saved. When inspecting the education budget presented by George W. Bush, the
inevitable will occur if there is no recognition that we’re being set up for
failure.

On February 3, the President
released his $2.2 trillion budget proposal for fiscal year 2004. The common
themes in the education proposal are of flexibility, accountability, and
choice. There are modest increases in non-defense spending, a move toward
privatizing services, and the elimination or consolidation of services. Of
specific concern is the direction of federal money for education.

There is over $758 million in education
voucher/choice proposals and tuition tax credits. Nearly half the fund ($301
million) can be directed to private school, with the remaining funds provided
for public school choice, charter schools, and magnet school programs.

Funds
that can be used for private schools include:

$226 million dedicated for refundable tax
credits for parents transferring a child from a low-performing public school.
The credit covers 50% of the first $5,000 in tuition, fees, and transportation
costs. Eligible students would be those that did not make adequate yearly
progress for the prior year. There is $75 million for a voucher plan, called a
“Choice Incentive Fund” that would give funds to states, school districts, and
community-based organizations to provide vouchers that allow students in
lo-performing schools to attend higher-performing schools, charter schools, or
private schools.

The budget seems to provide a $2.8 billion
(5.8%) increase for the Department of Education, but its misleading. 45
existing programs are eliminated, reducing the accounts by $1.5 billion. Most
notable are the Comprehensive School Reform Program and the National Board for
Professional Teaching Standards. Another 30 programs are cut, including
after-school initiatives, safe and drug free schools, and community technology
programs. And, what appears to be good news--$1 billion increases for Title I
and IDEA respectively, $75 million for reading programs, and $100 million for
mentoring initiatives---really is not. When all programs under the No Child
Left Behind Act are added together, the proposal provides $9 million less than
Congress authorized for 2004 and is $199 million below the amount needed to
maintain purchasing power at the 2002 level.

The President’s budget does not include
funding for a war with Iraq and is projected on an upturn in the economy. With
a current deficit of $304 billion, a change in status of either situation will
eliminate any possibility of restoring cuts or providing increases. Yet, with
depleting funds, the ‘set-up for failure’ mandates continue for public schools.
These unfounded mandates are the bait for the privatization and voucher
programs to take advantage of the President’s budget agenda. The result may
doom public education, as we know it. We must recognize an ambush to avoid the
inevitable.

And
that’s the Bottom Line.

SAFETY FOCUS SHIFTS

In 1993, a
student shot a teacher at a Walton, NY school in the face. This incident
prompted NYSUT to establish the Safety in the Classroom initiative. At the same
time, the KTF formed a safety committee to address issues of increasing
violence in the schools. Vince Voerg became the chairman and immediately began
to address local issues of safety and violence. He has passionately pursued
safety issues on behalf of KTF members for the past 10 years. Last week, he
announced that he was stepping down. Voerg stated, “The KTF has always been
ahead of the curve on safety issues. The programs and rules are now in place.
It’s time for existing plans to be fully carried out, and its up to every KTF
member to become an active participant and advocate for safety.”

In 1994, a Superintendent’s Conference Day
was dedicated to safety issues. The NY State Police instructed educators on the
importance of assessing a situation and of avoiding the escalation of any
incident. By 1998, following Columbine, the district stated that safety was a
priority and that a task force would be put in place. Unfortunately, despite
many hours of devoted time, the district failed to follow through. In fact, the
district failed to meet state deadlines when safety committees were mandated.
SAVE legislation was enacted in July 2000. In 2001, a district safety
coordinator was appointed and a safety response system was instituted.

Voerg stated, “The KTF has been pro-active
in identifying areas of concern and of establishing criteria for a safe
workplace for educators and students. With all of the work that has been done,
it is now time for the district to fully implement and enforce the existing
plans.”

Every KTF member should use the universal
Incident Form to report safety concerns. The completed form should be given to
the Principal with a copy to the Building Rep and the member retaining a copy.
If the member believes that the issue has not been addressed satisfactorily,
they are to file the Incident Report again, this time with the District Safety
Coordinator and a copy to the Building Rep.

Valid concerns can be aligned with
existing rules and laws, such as Board policy, Project SAVE legislation, and
Codes of Conduct. As Voerg points out, “Members should feel empowered to work
together in our schools to assure a safe workplace.”

MIRIAM’S NEW
ROLE

New Federal
regulations for providers of health care are now in effect. Issues pertaining
to claim filing and privacy have been addressed by the Trust and by National
Health Administrators. As a result, there are new guidelines to be followed by
members.

With electronic
filing came Federal HIPAA laws addressing issues of privacy. Each department is
required to designate, assign, and bond specific jobs for each administrator.
As such, only those designated individuals have the right to access member
information.

These new regulations affect the services that Miriam
White is allowed to perform for members.

If member’s
contact Miriam relative to issues of privacy, such as procedures, claim’s,
billing, compliance, etc., she has to, by law, refer you to the designated
individual at National Health. She may assist with general information, such as
enrollment and forms, but in all other cases she will transfer you to the
designated individual.

Members may
access information on the NHAI website for Kingston at www.nhai.net or through www.nysut.org, Locals on Line, Kingston
Teachers’ Federation, National Health.

HEALTH TRUST INFO

ID
CARDS: The new member numbers printed on the new cards apply to the medical
coverage only. Members Social security numbers continue to apply to the
Merck–Medco prescription drug coverage.

NEW
MEDICARE MEMBERS: Any member turning 65 in 2003 should mail a copy of their
MediCare card to the Kingston Trust Fund office as well as to Marcia Palladino
at Central. Marcia can be also contacted regarding MediCare Part B premiums.
845-339-3000.

Members are reminded to tell providers of
the new claim’s office in Endicott, listed on the new ID Cards. Have your
provider scan your new card. Members mailing claims directly to NHA are also
reminded to use the new address. Call Miriam at the office for new claim forms
or download them from the NHAI web site.

ULSTER FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

Here are updates on activities at UFCU through May 31.

*January
17-May 3: Bigler-Cioni Scholarships for graduating high school seniors and
students currently enrolled in college fulltime.

*January-April
15: Henry Gleich will be taking appointments for the UFCU tax filing service.
Appointment times are at the Washington Ave. office on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

*February
1-March 31: Home Equity Loans on sale!

*March
1-April 15: Tax Loan Special—checks must be made payable to NY State or to the
IRS.

*DINO
KIDS CLUB: Children 12 and younger. It teaches children about the banking
process.

Please
call Stacy at 845-339-5544, ext. 132 for rates and further information on any
of these topics.

A Special Thank You!

The KALP Committee would like to
thank Sue Rose and the staff at the Ulster Federal Credit Union for their
cooperation and kindness. Their generous help and expertise made our recent
project a tremendous success. We are proud and happy to include them in our
educational family in Kingston.

NEWS
and NOTES

Retired KHS English Teacher and Fulbright
scholar Mary Leonard will be performing a reading from her newly published book
of poetry entitled 21st Century Flint on Sunday, February 23,
from 4-5:30 pm at the Uptown Café on North Front Street in Kingston’s Stockade
district. Joy Martin-Moore, a retired KHS foreign language teacher whose last
teaching assignment was on the QE 2, will present her photographs, both framed
and in card form, at the reading. Half of the $5 admission fee and all of the
sale profits will be donated to the Oncology Support Center and Cancer
Foundation at Benedictine Hospital.

Congratulations to Miller Middle School
teachers Bob Shaut and Rick Wixom on the creation of the Hudson Valley Youth
Jazz Band. The 18-member group features student musicians from various high
schools from Niskayuna to Newburgh (nearly half from Kingston) performing the
music of the big bands. Most of their efforts are directed toward the music of
Duke Ellington and an upcoming band competition of his music.

A new law in New York State mandates that
drivers yield to pedestrians in crosswalks regardless of the presence of walk
lights.

Former KHS law
related education teacher Emil (Butch) Zullo was honored with the dedication of
the Emil Zullo Courtroom at Kingston High School. Local judges, lawyers, and
present and former colleagues, including former Social Studies Supervisor
Bonnie McCaig attended the January 30 ceremony.

KIDS’ CLASSIC

Kids’ Classic VII will be held at Dietz
Stadium on Saturday, April 12. The age-appropriate races for children, nursery
school through Grade 8, will begin at 9:30 and end around 1 pm. Applications
are available at the YMCA, at sponsor locations, and at area schools. In March,
the KTF will distribute information for volunteer sign-ups. It’s a great way to
serve your Federation, school, students, and community. Save the date!

KTF Sponsors 1000 Book Kid

Congratulations to Kathy Werner and the
Zena staff for their creation of the 1000 Book Kid Program. Through KTF
sponsorship and that of local businesses, their PTA has collected over 1000
books aimed at promoting reading by parents in the homes of pre-schoolers.
Parents borrow these books in 10 packs at no cost to the family.

At the kickoff of the program at Zena,
Kathy was presented with a KTF KEY AWARD for her work in creating the program.
People like Kathy are the ‘Key to Education.’

WOODSTOCK WATERCOLORS

A new gallery has opened in our
area—Woodstock Watercolors. It is located above the Fletcher Gallery at 40 Mill
Hill Rd., in the heart of Woodstock. Proprietor Sylvia Weinberg, retired
Kingston Schools Remedial Reading teacher(1967-1995) is committed to offering
beautiful, accessible and affordable images of Woodstock and the Universe at
Large. There are original paintings, prints, and cards for sale at the gallery.

Hours are Thursday through Sunday, noon to
5 pm, or by appointment. Telephone number is 845-679-0616.

The inaugural show highlights Weinberg’s
own work and the opening celebration will be February 22 from 4pm-7pm. Sylvia
looks forward to greeting her old friends from the Kingston Schools. Contact
Sylvia at 845-679-6195 or fax her at 845-679-3725.

Letter To The Editor

My
Dear Friends,

Words cannot express my appreciation and
gratitude for your generosity and support. I am overwhelmed by all of the cards,
email messages, Mass cards, prayers, and kind words of support. I wish that I
were able to thank each of you personally and to give you a big hug.

When I told my son, Eddie, of your
kindness, he walked away sadly. Ten minutes later he came back, looked into my
eyes and in a low voice said, “Mom, you are very lucky to have so many good
friends.” How correct he was. You truly are good people and will always be a
part of my life and my family. You have given me the courage to endure whatever
comes along.

Please know that I am well aware that each
of you has health and financial problems of your own, and that I am no more
special than you. This makes your kindness even more special and valued.

Thank you, again, and may you always enjoy
good health and happiness.

With much love and affection,Pat Gleason

CONDOLENCES

To Ellen Listort
on the loss of her brother; to Bill Tubby on the passing of his grandmother; to
Craig Michelewski on the death of his mother-in-law; to Pat Trodler on the loss
of her mother-in-law; and to Sarah Young on the passing of her grandmother.

FREE/FOR SALE

Electrically
operated hospital bed and manually operated hoyer. If anyone knows an
organization that has a lending closet and could use these articles, they will
be donated. Also, for sale, 1990 Ford econoline van with raised roof,
wheelchair lift, and tie downs. Asking $2000. Contact Sandra Rose at
845-687-0815.

Retirees Gloria
Blackman and Marilyn DeAngelo have joined the firm Win Morrison Realty at 55
John St., Kingston, which provides residential, commercial, and investment
properties and creative financing, Gloria and Marilyn can be contacted at
845-339-1144 or at 1-800-836-0588.